Filipino Remedies

FILIPINO REMEDIES • filipinoremedies.com 1

Filipino RemediesApril 2021 Edition 01Relearning traditional Filipino remedies

filipinoremedies.com • FILIPINO REMEDIES 2

We share Filipino remedies with the goal of relearning traditional healing prac-tices of the Philippines.

Remedies

1 Bawang Garlic

2 Bayabas Guava

5Ulasimang Bato

Peperomia

8Sambong

3 Acapulco

6Niyog-Niyogan

Rangoon Creeper

9Tsaang Gubat

4Ampalaya

Bitter Melon

7Lagundi

10Yerba Buena


GoutULASIMANG BATO TSAA 5

Peperomia Tea

Preparation

Description

Remedy

Time

Taste

Ulasimang Bato’s anti-inflammatory properties treat gout (the inflamma-tion of joints).

Drink

10 minutes

Mild Pepper

1. Wash thoroughly 1 cup of the stalk and leaves of ulasimang bato

2. Boil in 2 cups of water

3. Strain and drink one cup in the morning and one cup in the evening

Anti-Helminthic BUTO NG NIYOG-NIYOGAN 6

Rangoon Creeper Seeds

Description

Remedy

Time

Taste

Preparation

Dosage

The seeds of niyog-niyogan expel intestinal parasites such as worms and parasites.

Food

10 minutes

Almond Flavor

1. Eat dried, matured, raw seeds of niyog-niyogan at least 2 hours after dinner

2. If the first dosage, the worms are not removed, repeat the dosage again after a week

3. If there are no results after the second dose, seek medical help as there may be other underlying conditions

• Adults – at least 10 seeds for the best results

• Children (4-7 years old) – at least 4 seeds

• Children (8-9 years old) – take around 6 seeds

• Children (10-12 years old) – no more than 7 seeds

Fever BAWANG TSAA 1

Garlic Tea

Description Bawang’s warm properties cause your body to sweat which lowers a high fever.

Remedy Application

Time 10 minutes

Smell Pungent

Preparation 1. Boil bawang leaves and bulbs in water

2. Allow it cool down to luke warm

3. Apply to the head and body


General HealthTSAANG GUBAT TSAA 9

Tsaang Gubat Tea

Description Tsaang gubat was used to improve general health in traditional medi-cine and used widely throughout the Philippines.

Remedy Drink

Time

Preparation

25 minutes

1. Wash the leaves and chop into desirable size

2. Boil every one cup of chopped leaves to 2 cups of water and boil at low heat for 15 to 20 minutes

3. Strain and drink one cup per day

High Cholesterol KATAS NG BAWANG 1

Garlic Extract

Description Bawang is used for conditions associated with the heart and circulatory system.

Remedy

Time

Food

5 minutes

Taste

Preparation

Pungent

1. Take 1000mg to 7200mg of aged garlic extract in divided doses daily for at least 4 months

Kidney Stones SAMBONG TSAA 8

Sambong Tea

Preparation

Description Sambong’s diuretic property helps your body release water and pass urinary stones.

Remedy Drink

Time 10 minutes

Taste Menthol

1. Chop fresh leaves into small pieces

2. Wash under running water

3. Toss chopped leaves into a liter of boiling water and steep leaves for 10 minutes

4. Let tea cool

5. Can be taken 4 times a day

High Blood Sugar AMPALAYA TSAA 4

Bitter Melon Tea

Preparation

Description Ampalaya contains polypeptide-P (an insulin-like substance) which re-duces blood glucose.

Remedy Drink

Time 15 minutes

Taste Bitter

1. Cut or crush a cup of ampalaya seeds, leaves and flowers

2. Steep in 4 cups of boiling water for at least 10 minutes

3. Let it cool and strain

4. Drink one cup a day


Oral & DentalACAPULCO PANGMUMOG 3

Acapulco Mouthwash

Preparation

Description Acapulco is used as a mouthwash to treate ulcers, sores and toothache.

Remedy Mouthwash

Time 25 minutes

Taste Bitter

1. Soak and boil acapulco leaves for 10 to 15 minutes

2. Let it cool and gargle

PainYERBA BUENA TSAA 10

Yerba Buena Tea

Preparation

Description Yerba Buena is proven to relieve pain and ache caused by headaches, toothaches, abdominal pain, men-strual cramps and arthritis.

Remedy Drink

Time 2 weeks

Taste Spearmint

1. Wash leaves in running water

2. Dry leaves for 2 weeks

3. Crush leaves into pieces

4. Boil 2 teaspoons of leaves for every glass of water on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes

5. Strain and drink one cup every 3 hours

SkinKATAS NG BAYABAS 2

Guava Extract

Preparation

Description Bayabas’ antiseptic and anti-inflam-matory nature treat psoriasis, scarp-es, scalds and burns, and eczema.

Remedy Application

Time 20 minutes

Smell Sweet

1. Boil one cup of fresh bayabas leaves in 3 to 4 cups of water for 10 minutes

2. Strain leaves and let it cool

3. Wash the wound or affected area at least twice a week

RespiratoryLAGUNDI TSAA 7

Lagundi Tea

Preparation

Description Lagundi is widely recognized for treat-ing cough and asthma symptoms.

Remedy Drink

Time 25 minutes

Taste Bitter

1. Wash the leaves of tsaang gubat in running water

2. Chop into desirable size

3. Boil every one cup of chopped leaves to 2 cups of water

4. Boil at low heat for 15 to 20 minutes

5. Drain and take one cup every 4 hours


Prior to 1565PRE-SPANISH COLONIZATIONBabaylans were not only cultural and reli-gious leaders but they also managed the pub-lic health of their barangays or tribes. They held a high level of affluence and power that was equivalent to datus, the leaders of the barangays.

Traditional Filipino medicine takes a holis-tic view of health. A person’s physical, men-tal, emotional, spiritual and environmental well-being are interconnected.

Filipinos believed illnesses are an imbalance and disharmony with the spiritual world. They performed incantations, dances and ritual of-fers of food, clothing as well as blood sacrifice to make peace with the gods. Roots and seeds were also used to create remedies, treat-ments, and potions to treat the sick.

Healing and the public health in the Philippines have a rich history that is influenced by na-tive Filipino, Span-ish and American practices.

The History of Filipino Healing

Botong Francisco Progress of Medicine 1953 (1/4)


1565 – 1898SPANISH COLONIALISMWhen the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, babaylans were casted as evil witches and their practice was labeled as witchcraft. They were then shunned to the mountains and traditional practices were re-placed by Christianity. However, Filipinos still continued to use their traditional healing alongside their Christian faith.


1898 – 1918AMERICAN OCCUPATIONWhen the Americans arrived, they brought the Western medical system and education, influ-encing the public health of the Philippines.

The Americans built more hospitals and administered preventative measures to prevent the spread of illnesses. Filipinos re-ceived formal medical education and more medical benefits.

Present DayTRADITIONAL PRACTICES MEET MODERN MEDICINEToday, babaylans are known through the Spaniard name, albularyos.

Many Filipinos still continue to use home rem-edies, hilot and other traditional practices.

Why is traditional healing still used in modern day Philippines?

Folklore and traditional practices are deeply ingrained in the pre-colonial Filipino’s psyche prior to Spanish colonization. These practices are passed down from generation to genera-tion and become a part of family tradition.

Herbs practiced by albularyos have proven to have medical benefits which supports the credibility of its use.



NOTABLE MOMENTS

1992 The Department of Health of the Philippines published a list of the 10 scientifically validated Filipino medicinal plants (R.A. No. 8423 – Phil. Institute of Tradition-al and Alternative Health Care)

1997 The Institute for Tra-ditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) was established with the mission “to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino

people through the develop-ment of traditional and alterna-tive health care and its integra-tion into the national health care delivery system.”

2015 The Department of Science and Technology (DOST created the ‘Albularyo’ Certifica-tion Program to promote the re-search and development of tra-ditional herbs for the purpose of healing. DOST and PITAHC grant-ed existing albularyos with of-ficial recognition as alternative healthcare providers.


Relearning and PreservingToday, wellness surrounds us in forms of vita-min supplements, clean eating ads and juice trends. At the same time, we are surrounded by junk food marketing and processed foods. Both industries use branding and overused, friendly verbiage to lure consumers. Modern diets and the commercialization of wellness create a conflicting environment for consum-ers to make healthier choices for themselves.

What is the role of traditional healing and home remedies in the future?

Filipino Remedies is a resource designed to share traditional Filipino remedies as a re-

Further Reading

Alvarez, Arnold A. “Philippine Herbal Medicine.” http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/. Accessed 18 March 2021.

Amador, Mericia Mila A., Emy S. Lasarte, and Niño R. Rebuya. “Medical Pluralism, Traditional Healing Practices, and the Partido Albularyo: Challenge in Inclusion.” Scientific Research. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=100714. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

Limos, Mario Alvaro. “Albularyo: Why ‘Magic’ Healing Still Prevails in the Philippines.” Esquire. 18 Apr. 2020. https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/albularyo-origins-and-practices-philip-pines-a00293-20200418-lfrm. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

“Medical Health Guide.” http://www.medical-healthguide.com/index.htm. Accessed 18 March 2021.

“Natural Health Products.” Republic of the Philippines http://industry.gov.ph/industry/natu-ral-health-products/. Accessed 1 April 2021.

Nomoto, Sandra. “Indigenious Filipino Healing Practices.” Cold Tea Collective. 14 Jan. 2020. https://coldteacollective.com/indigenous-filipino-heal-ing-practices/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

Pag-iwayan, Jessica. “The Rise of Babaylans: Inside a Philippine Witch Coven.” Manilla Bulletin. 2 Nov. 2020, https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/02/the-rise-of-babaylans-inside-a-philippine-witch-coven/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

Pardo de Tavera, T.H. and Tomas Jerome B. The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines. Project Guten-berg. 22 Aug. 2008, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26393/26393-h/26393-h.htm. Accessed 28 February 2021.

The Legacy Book. Department of Health. 2014, https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/The%20Legacy%20Book%202nd%20Edition_0.pdf. Accessed 2 March 2021.

Designed and written by Aira Dolfo

NotesThese home remedies are not intended to replace professional medical advice but serve as an alternative resource.

The written content in this newspaper is sum-marized, paraphrased or directly quoted from their respective sources. The following links were referenced and used during the research of this project.

Please visit filipinoremedies.com for the full list of sources.

sponse to mainstream health trends and the commercialization of food. It is vital to re-member the cultural importance and health benefits of traditional healing and home rem-edies. The goal of this project suggests a re-turn to natural processes and remedies which allow people to be more intentional about their consumption of food and health choices.

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Filipino Remedies